Soldiers Starve as Economy Crumbles

Serving military personnel in the barracks are said to be starving after the finance ministry cut funding. Cabinet ministers warned of a food crisis in key security services such as the military and the police after Treasury swung the axe, massively reducing their budget requests for 2023.

The defense ministry had its budget reduced to $226 billion from the $800 billion the department had asked for. Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Home Affairs colleague Kazembe Kazembe lamented the dire state of affairs in the security services. Muchinguri-Kashiri said the poor budgetary support for the ministry had resulted in soldiers being the subject of public ridicule and insults:

“Soldiers do not have adequate accommodation; they need to be in barracks. They are given all sorts of names, they use public transport, they are insulted on a daily basis and whilst on duty, they sometimes go without food. On the food items they are supposed to be getting 53 items but this has been reduced to five items only. Soldiers were going for Sadza and beans without cooking oil daily.”

Home affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe said the situation was equally bad for the country’s police service. He said, “The police force situation is very desperate. You should actually be thanking the police that we still have sanity and tranquillity in our country because of the situation these men and women are going through.”

Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba reminded the finance minister that his security was provided by these disgruntled officers, adding that the situation was a national security threat:

“You are all being guarded by these security forces. A soldier is the last person to defend the country. Let us be serious. You cannot feed a soldier with beans. Kuhondo taiti Gandanga haridye derere mukoma! Vapeyi mari kubva nhasi!”

Parliament’s Defence Committee Chairperson Levi Mayihlome added, “The military salary concept should be approved. Government should ensure that law enforcement agents – soldiers and police – are remunerated and accommodated well. Most police vehicles are grounded due to a lack of spare parts. There is gross disgruntlement over the police transport allowances.”

Independent Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa questioned government priorities pointing out that while critical services were underfunded, the government still managed to find the money for the minister’s vehicles and housing loans:

“Ministers no longer care for the people because they were given loans amounting to half a million United States dollars to buy houses and cars. There is no collaboration in government. July Moyo is spending devolution money willy-nilly. He is taking Chiefs’ money. Who is he!? We tired of July Moyo? We do not want to see him.”

Treasury massively reduced the funding bids by government departments for 2023. For the public service, Treasury approved $87 billion, against a bid of $657 billion, while higher and tertiary education